Knitting-machine.



No. 793,791. PTENTED JULY 4, i905. J'. JOHNSON.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 18, 1901.

SSHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 793,791. PATENTED JULY 4L, 1905. J. JOHNSON. KNITTING- MACHINE.

LU??LICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 No. 793,791* y PATENTBD JULY 4, 1905. J. JOHNSON. KNJTTING MAUHJNB.

APPLIATION l-ILBD MAR. 18, 1901.

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nitrico 'ratte Patented July t, ZtQ.

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lUSl/ill JOHNSON, OF Lltltllttl'lltl, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOH OF (.)lllD-HALF T() CSIEPIFN S'IRIC'ITUN AND Sill/LEON SlltlCFltHt, OF LlClLES'lElt,

ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATON forming part ot' Letters .Patent No. 793,791, dated July lu, 1905.

Application filed March 18, 1901. Serial No. 51,723.

lliugnst E22, 1900,) of which the 'fo lowing` is a specihcation.

'lhis invention has reference to ldlittingmachines ol the circular type lor the produce tion o I' tubularseamless Fabrics, and has lor its object the production el a machine by means q bll which a clnnige from one pattern or combi lnation olE rib to another or to plain fabric, or vice versa, may be automatica]ly ellected.

ln a machine constructed according` to this invention ler the purposenamed two grooved needle-cyliiulers are employed disposed endwise relatively to each other, preferably in vertical positions and stationary, the upper needlc-cylimler being supported by a bridge or one or more arms detachably or otherwise connected to the canrshell or cam-carrier oi.f the lower cylinder. 'lwo kinds oi latch-needles are preferably elnluloyed--wizq the ordinary latch or single-hook needles and doubleended needles, the latter having a hook at each end. '.llhe double-ended needles are those by which the change oil rib is ellected, they being transferred Yt'roni one cylirufler to the other at the required time to ell'ect variation in the lalu'ic by drawing` the loops to the other side oi. the fabric, as willbeuiulerstood. lhe said donble-einled needles are placed in the needlecylinders in such alternation or combination 'with the ordinary needles as the required change in the fabric necessitates. 'lhc doubleended needles are shorter than the ordinary needles, but are engaged by jacks or sliders proiv'ided with at least two butts or heels, which are actuated by cams Vlor lmitting or loop-torming purposes and also lor moving' the sliders iiorwarijl to engage the hooks of the needles te actnate the latter.

lteierring to the accompanying drawings, 'Figures l and 2 are front and side elevations,

respectively, of sullicient ol a circular-imitting machine to illustrate the present invention which is applied thereto. Fig. 2l is a central vertical section ol the two needle-cylinders in their relative positions with the canicarriers removed. Figs. et, :3, and l5 are sectional details ol the necdle-cylimlers, showing the needles and sliders in dill'erent positions. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ol' a singleended or ordinary knitting-i'1cc ;lle. Fig. S is aside elevation ol a donble-eruled knitting-needle used tortransferring. lligs. 0, '10, and 1lV art` side elevations ot' the jacks or sliders for use with the double-ended needles. Fig. 12 is a side elevation ol a slider formed ot steel wire. Fig. j?) is a side ele vation ol.1 a latch-guard :Furnished with a butt, Fig. l1 Lt is a side elevation ot' a stationarylatch-guard. Fig. .l5 is a side elevation ol a jack or slider and a donble-ended needle in engagement :For ki'iittixlg permises. Fig. Y16 is a plan oi a portion of the needle-eylinder, cam-carrier, and latch opening devices. Fig. 1T is a sectional detail el the latch-opening devices, showing a latch held open by contact with a post oi" the wheel as the needle rises preparatory to taking the thread. Fig. 'i8 is a detail vertical section of the top needle-cylinder, cam-carrier, cam C for actuating sliders, and disl on same spindlc for actuating said cam. Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail section oiI one of the spring controlled pins which actuate the disk (.,lf and slider-cam. Fi 20 is a irent elevation oi the cam lor djsengaging the sliders from the double-ended needles. Fig. 2l is a Vliront elevation el the revoluble cam C for trans'ten ring the needles Yfrom one cylinder to the other.

Referring to Fig. l, .A represents the hedplate, A the needle-cyliluliin, and li the can1- carrier, ot an ordinary circular-lmitting niachine, to which carrier a bridge l is attached by screws ll. The said bridge supports the top needle-cyliiuler C and its cam carrier l, Figs. l, L, 3, and '18, by means ot a spindle l), one end ol which passes through the boss fli in the top of the bridge l' and is held in position by a. collar lll, fastened tothe spindle l) by a screw E', while the other end passes through the cam-carrier C', loose thereon, and through two disks or circular plates D D2, Fig. 3, let into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the needle-cylinder C and secured thereto by the nut D3.

The cam-carrier C is revolvedfrom the carrier B by means of a horizontal lever F, Figs. 1 and Q, pivoted at F' to the upper edge of a semicircular plate B, having an integral connection at each end to the vertical arms ofthe bridge, while the other end of the said lever bears against a lug or projection Fz onto the cam-carrier C and revolves the latter thereby.

Ordinary needles (,72 may be used in both the top and bottom needle-cylinders when ordinary rib Yfabrics uniform in pattern are to be produced; but when it is desired to change the combination of rib at some point in the knitting double -ended needles, such as T, Figs. 8 and 15, are employed. These needles are used in connection with sliders R, Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 15, which latter are provided with two butts it' R5, a hook Re, abeveled or inclined end R, and a shoulder R.

For knitting' purposes the hook of the needle engages the hook Rf of the slider, as shown in Figs. 5 and 15, and the two when so engag'ed receive their vertical reciprocating motion for loop-forming' purposes by means of the usual knitting-cams of the machine acting' on the butts Rf, while for transferring purposes cams to be described act upon the butts 't' of the slider.

Assuming' that a 1/1 rib fabric is being made and it is desired to change during the knitting to a rib fabric, the needles would be arranged as follows: an ordinary needle in every alternate groeve in preferably the lower needle-cylinder and in the upper necdle-cylinder a needle, also in every alternate groove; but every alternate needle in the upper needle-cylinder will be a double-ended needle, which latter upon being slid or transferred from its groove in one cylinder to an opposite empty groove (containing a slider only) in the other cylinder would present an alternation of three needles and one empty groove in one cylinder, with three empty grooves and one needle in the other cylinder, being the required arrangement to produce a 3/1 rib fabric.

The transferring of the d ouble-ended needles from one cylinder to the other is effected by means of a revoluble cam C in each of the cam-carriers B and U, respectively. rFliese cams are actuated,through intermediate meehanism, from dog's G' on the chain This chain is carried over two sprocket-wheels l, driven by a elawker and ratchet-wheel mechanism, which are common to most circularknitting machines, and therefore need no Yfurther description.

The dogs Cr/ are so arranged on the chain that when it is desired to transfer a needle from the top to the bottom needle-cylinder, or vice versa, to change the pattern or combination of rib in the fabric being' knitted one of these dogs passes under and raises the end of a lever H, pivoted at H, Fig. 2, to the bedplate A. This action depresses the opposite end of the said lever and draws down a connecting-rod H2, Figs. 1 and 2, pivoted thereto and also to an arm J, one end of which is fulcrunied at Jl to the spindle K', Fig. 1, while the opposite end normally supports and holds out of action a driving-clawker L. lVhen. however, the red HfI is lowered, as described, it also lowers the arm I,l and permits the clawkcr L to gear with and drive the ratchetwheel M. A spring H, connected at one end to the bracket K, lixed by bolts K2 to the bedplatc A, and the other end to the lever H, returns the latter to its original position after the dog` Gr' has passed out of Contact with it. T he clawker L, pivoted to the end of a horizontal lever N, fulcrumed at its opposite endv to the bracket K, is continuously operated through the medium of a conliecting-rodvN and lever N, the latter being' pivoted at N" to the framing of the machine and operated by a revolving cam T, mounted on a shaft T2, acting' on its opposite end and having' bearings in the framing. (Not shown.)

lVhen the arm J has been lowered, as hereinbefore described, the spring' L draws the clawker into engagement with the ratchetwheel M to actuate it. This ratchet-wheel is loosely carried on the spindle K', Fig. 1, and carries on its inner face two sets of lugs M/ M2, which through mechanism to be described act upon the cams C3, which transfer the needles Yfrom one cylinder to the other.

As the lug or lug's NF M2 revolve with the ratchet-wheel they come into contact with spring-controlled pins l) F, projected into their path by means of a spring' l, Fig'. 1G, located in a short tube or barrel O O, Figs. 1 and 2, which forms an integral part of the bracket K, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 19. As the lug M/ presses against the pin l it pushes the opposite end of the latter into the track of radial arms Q, Figs. 1 and 18, on the face of a disk Q, mounted on a spindle Q2, which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 18, passes through the plate B3, through the cam-carrier G, and has on its inner end a cam C, Figs. 1S and Q1, which acts upon the butts R' of the sliders andr moves the latter in their grooves, so that the needles connected thereto are projected into opposite grooves in the other cylinder and engaged by sliders therein, as hereinafter described. lYhen the cam (j acts upon the butt R of the slider, the shoulder R of the latter bears on the adjacent hook of the needle and moves the necdlealong into an opposite groove in the other cylinder, which contains a slider ready to receive it, and as the opposite or free hook of the needle bears against the hook R2 of the slider the latter nieves aside-v'. e., outwardlygso as to let the needle-hook slip past and engage it, as shown IOO IIO

on the righthand side ol' lig. 3 and in Fig. 15. lin elastic or coiled spring El, which encircles the needle-cylinder, permits this outward movement of the slider and presses it back again immediately, thereby causing` the ncedleshook and slider-hook to engage each other. The two hooks of each needle are new engaged.I one with the slider in the top cylinder and the other with the slider in the bottoni cylinder. A curved bevel-edged cam U, Figs. l and t, supported on two uprights or pillars U, screwed to the canrcarrier .l-, is ernployed to release the slider 'trein one needlehook i'inniediately a slider in the opposite groove in the other necdle-cylinder has engaged its opposite hook, as herciiibelore deu scribed. rthis is e'lliected as lfollows: As the slider either rises or descends in its groove to project its needle into an opposite groove, as stated, its lower end it passes over the edge olA the cam ll, which, being bevel edges, grad nally draws the slider away l'roin the needlehook, as in Fig. et, and when the two are diseiigaged, as shown. it cam acts upon the butt lt' olI the diseiigaged slider and draws the latter up, as shown in Fig. 5. so that the needle is now lel't in engagement with the slider in the bottom cylii'iders, or vice versa, il. the slider which was to transler its needle had been in the bottom cylinder.

lt will be observed that two pins Vlm and two lugs M/ are employed lor acliuating the slidercani tl, the one Vlor moving the cani into position to act on the butts olf the sliders to move them `in their grooves Vlor transferring purposes and the other lor returning the cam tl to its original or inoperative position alter the sliders have been moved as stated.

.lhe pins l. and lugs il/l/ are a short distance apart, the object oil which is that the pin shall not come into action to riwersc the cam tl until the cam-cylinder tl has made more than a complete revolution, so as to act on and move those few sliders which were not operu ated upon by the cam while the latter was changing its position as the result olE being operated upon by the lirst pin.

'.lhe parts Q Q" Qi (seen in Fig. i) correspond to the parts Q Q] (Ji and are operated in a similar n'ianner, the pin l" when acted upon by the lug Vlrl. projecting at one end into the track ol the arrns Qi. As will be evident, the upper cam tl" lowers the needles lroin the top to the bottoni needle-cv]inder and the lower cam l" operates revel-seiya i Vl t will be observed upon reference to the lelt-harnl side ol: Fig. Ii that the upper bevn eled end lt el'l the slider lt acts as z. latchguz'trd and keeps the latch open while the nee-V dles in the top cylinder are desceinling; but .iinmediately theneedlesl commence to rise the latches move in contact with the inner tace V oi` a curved plate v"if, lixed by screws Y to the crun-carrier li, which plate keeiis the .le` t titallllt latches open until the needles enter between the teeth 1tlf/of a wheel lli, provided also with upright posts VW, which also keep the latches open, as shown in Fig. 117, untilthe needles reach the yarn-guidcX thereagainst,as in Fig. 16,l"ron1 which they take the yarn. Thewheel. Wis mounted upon a bolt lV, having a shank threaded into the boss l.

Vlfhcn ordinary needles C", Fig'. '7, are used in the top-cylinder l, devices such as rl, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, are einlviloyed, the beveled upper end ol? which bysupi'iortingthe latch, l? (i, acts as a giutrd and keeps the latch open. rthesedevices tlg may be provided with a butt til, to be acted upon by the usual knitting-can'is, or withoutsuch a butt, in which case the device would be stationary.

The sliders, Figs. l). lll, and lA l, are made out ol lilat steel; but in liig. l2 a slider is shown made out ot steel wire,similar letters of retm" ence indicating corresponding parts to those Vin Figs. i), .10, and Il.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the natureol my said inveiition and in what manner the saine to be performed, l declare that what l claim is--A- l. ln a ki'iitting-machinc, the combination with two grooved cylinders arranged endwise relatively to each other, and a nain-carrier il, ol sliders and double-eiuled needles therein, a curved plate V secured to the cam-carrier in such position that the latches ol the needles will move Vin eoi'itact with the inner edge ol the said plate when the needles begin to rise and said latches be kept open, as described, and a revoluble wheel Vl" provided withtmith lV' between which the needles are adapted to enter and also ijn'ovided with upright posts Vif 1;, for the purpose specilied.

2. ln a knittiug-machine, the combinatioi'i with two grooved cylinders, of sliders and double-ended needles therein, earns tl l'or actuating the said sliders. disks Q Qf, spri ng-controlled pins .for aclwlating the latter, ratchetwhcel lvl with lugs thereon Vlor actuating said. pins and means Ator drivingthe ratchelmvheel lor the purpose described.

3. In a knitting-niachine, the combination with two grooved cylinders, ot sliders and doublesended i'ieedles therein, calns tl lo aetuatingthcsz'tid sliders. diskstlf, spring-controlled pins For actuating the latter, rain-hetwheel i\f`lV lugs thereon For :wtuatingsaid pins. ratchet-wlieel, d riving-clawkel: lor the latter and means between the said clawker and the cam 'll' lor actuating the said clawker tor the purpose described.

l n testimony whereol' l alli x my sigiiature in presence ol' two witnesses.

it iSlrli ll l ti i llatl( itl.

lltitnesses:

1C. N. linwis, llVAi/rnn lV. liant.

reg 

